The Bottom Line: We Are Not Ready
Congress is in district this week, which is a perfect time for them to hear from constituents like you about the importance of medical research funding that is robust and reliable.
Congressional appropriations work is picking up pace. The House Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee is scheduled to mark up its bill (which includes proposed funding for NIH, ARPA-H, CDC, BARDA, AHRQ, and other key research and public health agencies) on Friday, June 5 (watch here). The full committee markup will follow on Tuesday, June 9 (watch here). Even if these dates slip a bit, this is an important moment to weigh in. If you can’t meet with your representative, use our editable email to encourage your members of Congress to champion robust and reliable NIH funding for FY27. Your individual influence can make the difference in funding outcomes!
A case in point: After hearing from constituents, Sens. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) and John Fetterman (D-Pa.) sent a letter on May 21 to NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya urging him to accelerate the pace of grantmaking. We truly appreciate the senators’ willingness to weigh in, encouraging NIH to allocate funding needed to propel progress against cancer and other deadly and debilitating health threats.
Russ’s Corner
Over the long weekend, news reports surfaced showing that the Ebola epidemic is gaining steam and now numbers more than 900 cases. While the affected countries – the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda – may feel a world away, our increasingly global world means that infectious diseases like Ebola are only a plane ride from us.
Earlier this year, Research!America asked the American public about infectious disease research and pandemic preparedness. An overwhelming 93% of Americans say it’s important for the federal government to fund research addressing infectious diseases. Additionally, more than half (54%) don’t think our elected leaders are doing enough to prepare for the next pandemic.
These takeaways were mirrored in Research!America Board member and National Academy of Medicine President Victor Dzau’s commentary on the gaps in monitoring, diagnosing, and treating Ebola – all of which combined to create the perfect storm. “The bottom line is we were not ready for this outbreak, and we aren’t ready for the next one,” Dzau said.
Basic and applied infectious disease research, the development of diagnostics and treatments, and disease surveillance require strong coordination across NIAID, CDC, BARDA, and the full R&D ecosystem. Prevention is far more cost-effective than an emergency response, and Research!America will keep making that case on Capitol Hill. With the FY27 appropriations process underway, now is the time to ensure that infectious disease research remains a national priority. Global public health and our own national security depend on it.
Russ
Restructuring PEPFAR: In a recent opinion piece, eight former directors of the CDC warned that the administration’s rapid restructuring of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) could weaken disease surveillance networks, treatment infrastructure, and global partnerships that help detect and contain outbreaks before they spread more widely. Under the proposed changes, countries would be required to pay for some CDC technical services that were previously supported through PEPFAR funding. The State Department argues that the changes are intended to promote local autonomy and self-reliance, but it has not addressed the impact on global health of increasing the financial burden on partner countries. PEPFAR is a bipartisan success story, and any policy changes should heighten its positive impact, not compromise it.
ARPA-H Update: Check out our updated tracker to see summaries of new and ongoing ARPA-H initiatives. In case you missed last week’s Zoom discussion with ARPA-H Director Dr. Alicia Jackson, it’s worth the watch. You can find ARPA-H’s calendar of upcoming Proposers’ Days and other events here.
Upcoming Member-only Meetings:
- On Thursday, June 4, at noon ET, we’ll host Salim Alameddin, executive vice president at Crossroads Strategies, and Joel Burke, AI policy adviser for Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.). We’ve asked Salim and Joel to discuss the administration’s priorities around artificial intelligence and the latest AI-related activity on Capitol Hill.
- On Wednesday, June 10, from noon to 1 p.m. ET, we’re hosting policy expert Carrie Wolinetz, Ph.D. for a Washington update. As previously noted, we expect the House Labor-HHS bill to be marked up by then, so we’ll have plenty to discuss!
If you’re affiliated with a member of the Research!America alliance, please watch your inbox for the links to register.
Bringing the Patient Voice to FDA: Join the Food and Drug Law Institute (FDLI) on June 16-17 for Essentials of Working with FDA for Patient Organizations, a practical program designed to help organizations navigate key regulatory processes. Learn more and register here.
New NIH Alumni Network: The Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) recently launched a new NIH Alumni Networkto provide former NIH staff with opportunities for engagement, professional development, and supporting the next generation of scientists. More information, including how to join, can be found at FNIH.org/nih-alumni-network.
Join Research!America: If you haven’t already, join our multi-sector alliance! The membership process is straightforward, the benefits are compelling, and your participation informs and intensifies our community’s influence on and off Capitol Hill. Email Associate Director of Membership and Development Operations Donald Cook for more information.